B-CC Crew 2008-2009
Welcome to the fifteenth season of B-CC Crew! In 1993, B-CC parents started our high school rowing program with borrowed boats and used oars for a handful of students. Today, we are a team of more than 80 boys and girls - the largest athletic team at B-CC. A member of the National Capital Area Scholastic Rowing Association until 2007, B-CC Crew is now an independent high school rowing team. B-CC is a member of USRowing Association and follows its rules of rowing as they relate to scholastic teams. It competes in local, regional and national races-on the Potomac River, the Occoquan Reservoir, the Anacostia River, the Schuylkill River (Philadelphia) as well as other racing venues. As a club sport, the team receives no financial support from the school or the county. B-CC Crew practices on the Potomac River at Thompson Boat Center in Georgetown.
B-CC Travels to 75th Nationals May 22-23! (Updated! 6/14/2009)
Four varsity boats (Men’s 1st and 2nd 8s and Women’s 1st and 2nd 8s) will compete at the 75th Nationals in Mercer Lake, New Jersey. Sponsored by the Scholastic Rowing Association of America, Nationals attracts high schools throughout North America who compete in more than 150 events over a two-day period. The Princeton National Rowing Association is this year’s host, and the regatta will be held on Mercer Lake, an official Olympic training site for the 2004 Summer Games in Athens and the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing China.
It is slated to be the site of the 2012 Olympic Trials. The Finn M.W. Caspersen Rowing Center boathouse at Mercer Lake is home to the Mercer Junior Rowing Club, Peddie School, Lawrenceville School, Hun School and the US National Team.
B-CC Freshmen Men Race into Finals at Stotes! (Update! 6/14/2009)
More than 5,200 athletes, 180 schools, and a record 950 boats showed up to compete at the 83rd Annual Stotesbury Cup Regatta in Philadelphia. B-CC sent six boats this year: the Baron’s Women’s Senior 8, 2nd 8, and Freshmen 8 and the Men’s Senior 8, 2nd 8 and Freshmen 8. Rowing under cloudy skies, three boats advanced to the semi-finals: the Women’s Senior 8, coming in 18th in the time trials, and the Men’s and the Women’s Freshmen 8, finishing 7th and 10 respectively.
In a near photo-finish of a race for second and a spot in the finals, the Men’s Freshmen 8 beat out St. Ignatius Academy (Cleveland, OH) by .09 seconds! The Men’s Freshmen went on to finish 6th overall in field of nearly 40 boats from the US and Canada! Congrats to all athletes and to the Men’s Freshmen 8: Steven Yaffe, Brad Gerber, Matt Dutko, Noah Van Ekdom, Sam Weiner, Michael Colella, Sam Murphy, Victor Hainski, Alex Sax. Go Barons!
B-CC Women Win WMIRA’s Championship Regatta! (Updated! 5/14/2009)
WOW! B-CC Crew concluded its 2009 regular season of racing with terrific medal-winning performances. Racing in nine different events at the Washington Metropolitan Interscholastic Rowing Association Championships on the Anacostia River, B-CC men and women medaled in eight events. It was 11 seconds and open water for the Women’s 1st 8 as it crossed the finished line, beating Woodrow Wilson, Walt Whitman, Walter Johnson, and Georgetown Day to win the Gretchen G. Ellsworth Cup.
The Women’s 2nd 8 handily won its race against Wilson and Whitman to take home the Anacostia Cup. The Women’s Freshman 8 grab 1st place to win the Orrick Cup with open water and almost a 13 second lead over Wilson. The Women’s Novice 8 took 3rd place in a close battle with Walter Johnson for its final race of the season. This impressive collection of wins added up to an overall regatta points victory, and the women’s squad took home the Christopher Graves Cup.
On the men’s side, the Barons raced hard against its Washington area rivals. Winning its heat against Wilson, Walter Johnson and DeMatha, the Men’s 1st 8 took 2nd place in the finals to Gonzaga, beating Wilson again and Bishop Ireton. The Men’s 2nd 8 placed 3rd to Gonzaga and Whitman, beating Wilson and Bishop Ireton. The Men’s Novice 8 won 2nd place to Gonzaga gold, beating St. John’s and Whitman. In a barn burner of a race, the Men’s Freshman 8 grabbed second losing by only three seats to Gonzaga and beating Wilson, Whitman and Bishop Ireton. Congrats to coaches on athletes on an outstanding season!
Awesome Rowing on the Occoquan by B-CC Crew! (Updated! 5/4/2009)
Wow! Competing against 18 almost exclusively Northern Virginia teams in 10 events, B-CC Crew delivered another great rowing performance at the Al Urquia Regatta on the Occoquan Reservoir on April 25. With parents and friends cheering madly from the grandstand, the Barons rowed hard under sunny skies.
Capturing first place victories were the Men’s 1st 8 (first time ever!) and the Men’s Freshman 8 (by open water!). The Novice Men’s 4 and the Novice Women’s 4 also won first place by open water in their finals. Second place victories went to the Women’s 1st 8 and the Women’s Freshman 8. Third place was grabbed by the Women’s 2nd 8 and the Men’s Novice 8. Coming in fourth was the Women’s Novice 8 racing as a Varsity 3rd and in fifth, the Men’s 2nd 8.
Barons Dominate 1st Annual Maryland Championship, Win Montgomery Cup! (Updated! 4/23/2009)
Competing against 11 other high school rowing teams in the 1st Annual Maryland State Championship Regatta, B-CC dominated the day. In 14 events, B-CC Crew grabbed nine 1st place victories and two 2nd place wins. Hosted this year by St. Paul’s School (Baltimore County), the Championship Regatta was held at Baltimore Rowing Club on the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River.
Gold medals were won by B-CC men’s and women's 1st 8s; women’s 2nd 8; women’s Freshman 8; men’s novice 8; men’s 1st 4; women’s 1st 4 in heats A and B; and the women’s 2nd 4. Silver was claimed by the men’s 2nd 8 and the men’s Freshman 8.
Barons Victorious at Triple Meet on the Potomac! (Updated! 4/26/2009)
On Saturday, April 18, B-CC Crew hosted Washington & Lee High School (Arlington) and Westfield High School (Chantilly) on the Potomac River in Georgetown. In seven events, B-CC Crew claimed six victories. The men’s side included wins for the 1st 8; the 2nd 8; and the Freshman 8. The women’s side included wins for the 1st 8; the 2nd 8; and the Freshman 8
Philly Brings Another Strong Showing by B-CC Crew! (Updated! 4/12/2009)
At the 4th Manny Flick hosted by the Philadelphia Scholastic Rowing Association, B-CC Crew raced in some of its toughest contests of the season with terrific results. The Women’s Varsity 8 came in second to Winter Park (FL). The Men’s Varsity 8 came in second to Holy Spirit (NJ). The Women’s 2nd 8 grabbed third to Winter Park and Atlantic City (NJ).
Despite equipment malfunctions at the beginning of the race, the Men’s Varsity 4 finished a strong 4th to Radnor (PA), Lower Merion (PA), and Oakcrest (NJ) in a six-boat race. The Freshman Men’s and Women’s teams continued to show their might on the water, each finishing in 6th place out of a field of 16 and 20 boats respectively. The Women’s Novice 4 came in 6th and the Men’s 2nd Freshman boat came in 19th.
Barons Row Hard at St. Andrew’s! (Updated! 4/12/2009)
At the St. Andrew’s Invitational Regatta (Middleton, DE), B-CC Crew battled gusty cross winds of Noxtontown Pond and strong competition. Local teams included Walt Whitman and West Springfield. Mid-Atlantic-area teams included St. Andrew’s, Ocean City High School (NJ), Merion Mercy Academy (PA), and Monsignor Bonner High School (PA).
B-CC’s Men’s and Women’s Varsity 8, Men’s 2nd Varsity 8, and the Women’s Freshman 8 beat the local competition and claimed third place to NJ/PA teams. The Men’s Freshman 8 rowed to third place. The Women’s Varsity 4 and the Women’s Novice 8 placed third in their respective races. The Men’s 3rd 8 finished 5th and the Men’s 2nd Freshman finished 6th.
B-CC Crew Starts with Victories for Women's Freshman 8 and Varsity 8! (Updated! 3/29/2009)
It was a cold, wet Saturday morning on the Anacostia River, but B-CC Crew women were hot! The Women's Freshman 8 raced to their first victory of the season, handily beating Georgetown Visitation by almost a minute. In a three boat race against Georgetown Visitation's JV and JV3 boats, B-CC's Junior Varsity 8 was edged out of first place by Visi's JV by 2.3 seconds. The Women's Varsity 8 won the Gold-White Cup for the second year in a row with a narrow .4 second victory over Visitation's V8.
The men's squad also got off to a strong start in their triple meet against DeMatha and Gonzaga. B-CC men's 2nd Freshman 8, Junior Varsity 4, Varsity 4 and Varsity 8 came in 2nd in their respective races. The Freshman 8 and Junior Varsity 8 boats came in 3rd in their respective races. Congrats athletes and coaches!
Barons on the Water! (New! 3/22/2009)
B-CC Crew moves to on-water training at Thompson Boat Center and afternoon practices on the Potomac River. Novice and varsity squads gear up for its 2009 season.
B-CC completed one of its most successful Car Washes on March 7. The team washed cars from 11am until 3pm with a line down River Road during the middle of the afternoon.
Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race Brunch: March 29 from 10 to 11:30 am! (New! 2/17/2009)
B-CC Crew and BlackFinn Restaurant & Saloon are televising live The 155th Annual Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race on March 29. Race time is 10:40 am. Doors open at BlackFinn (4901 Fairmont Avenue, Bethesda) at 10 am. BlackFinn is serving a discounted brunch menu until 11:30 am. Donation to B-CC Crew is $10 at the door or RSVP in advance to Bridget Hartman bridget@speakeasy.net or Judy Gilbert Levey j.levey@verizon.net.
Washington Post - Rowing Preview! (New! 3/24/2009)
Check out Jeff Greer's article in the Tuesday sports section of the Washington Post. There's a summary of last year's action and a look ahead to the upcoming season.
B-CC Crew 2009 Banner Sponsors! (Updated! 3/23/2009)
A giant thank you to our 2009 Banner Sponsors!
Gold Medal: Eastham’s Service Center & Prep Matters
Silver Medal: Bucca di Beppo, Capital Educators, Courtyard Marriott of Downtown Silver Spring & Resole America
Bronze Medal: American Plant Food, Bethesda Bagel, Bethesda Sport And Health, The Corner Slice, Getty Auto Center & Huntington Learning Center
Please support these generous local businesses.
Mid-Atlantic Sprints: Congrats to Novice and Varsity Rowers! (New! 2/4/2009)
Congrats to all athletes who competed in the Mid-Atlantic Erg Sprints at TC Williams High School on January 31. To see results, go to Erg Sprints....
The Mid-Atlantic Erg Sprints is the largest indoor rowing event in the Washington DC area and is the official qualifying event for the World Indoor Rowing Championships (CRASH-B Sprints) in Boston next month. Sponsored by the Alexandria Crew Boosters, this huge event attracts rowers of all ages from all over the region.
Baron Men row to 5th Place in the Head of the Schuylkill on Oct 25! (Updated! 12/07/2008)
In its final head race of the 2008 Fall Season, B-CC Crew sent two varsity boats to the Thomas Eakin’s Head of the Schuylkill Regatta: a Men's 4 and a Women's 8. Launching at daybreak, Drew Kochman, Alex Guhin, George Michopoulos, Sam Hartman and Nick van der Vink rowed to a strong 5th place finish against 45 other crews in the Men’s High School Fours w/ Cox (Under 19). Only a 1.29% difference separated the B-CC boat from first place winner West Side Rowing.
Later in the day and battling winds and sporadic rain, Ellie Levey, Samantha Miller, Emily O'Connor, Soraya Shehata, Caroline Mansueti, Anna Krist, Kira Richards, Kate LaFranchi and Amanda Litty rowed hard to a 21st finish against 35 other crews in the Women's High School First and Second Varsity Eights (Under 19).
B-CC Crew Rows Strong at Head of The Charles (Updated! 10/26/2008)
With more than 300,000 spectators watching from bridges and along the shore, 8,400 athletes raced down the Charles River Oct 18-19 in the world’s largest two-day regatta, The Head of The Charles. In its first ever Head of The Charles, B-CC Crew sent three varsity boats: a Youth Men’s 4, a Youth Women’s 4 and a Youth Women’s 8. The team rowed hard in stiff winds and against tough national and international competition.
Ellie Levey, Samantha Miller, Emily O’Connor, Laura Valenstein, Soraya Shehata, Caroline Mansueti, Anna Krist, Jessica McKay and Kira Richards finished 37th in a field of 68 Youth Women’s 8s. Drew Kochman, Alex Guhin, George Michopoulos, Sam Hartman and Nick van der Vink finished 40th in a field of 70 Youth Men’s 4s. Hannah Schreiber, Blair Bradley, Izzy Kratchman, Zoe Newell and Ella Kampelman finished 56th in a field of 65 Youth Women’s 4s.
B-CC Crew alumni were also well represented in the competition: Jackson Maier '01; Emily Loeshe ‘01 (Middlebury); Andrew Newell '05 (Washington College); Sam Reed '05 (Bowdin); Mike Long '05 (Columbia); Aaron Frankel '06 (Stanford); Felipe Luisi '06 (Trinity); Jen Tillman '06 (Layfette); Andrew Rubin '07 (University of North Carolina); Becca Conley '07 (Emory); Liz Biddle '07 (Northeastern); Anna Kamerow '07 (Harvard); Nora Collins '07 (Bates); Laura Petty '08 (Boston College); Adam Evans '08 (Northwestern).
B-CC Coach Nancy Faigen rowed in two events: the Senior-Master Eights, where she came in 6th with less than a minute difference between her boat and the 1st place winner; and the Director’s Challenge Quad Mixed, where she and her fellow teammates in the Beltway Bandits won bronze.
Record Turn-Out for 2008 Novice Fall Program! (New! 10/4/2008)
Congrats to all freshman and novice rowers who participated in the introductory program this fall. Three days a week for three weeks, nearly 50 high school athletes were introduced to the fundamentals of rowing and water safety at Thompson Boat Center in Georgetown.
B-CC Crew coaches and varsity built practice barges to maximize the time on the water for the students. Registration for the 2009 Spring Season is Sunday, November 9 at 6 pm in the school cafeteria. Go Barons!
Barons Women’s 4s Come in 1st , 3rd and 4th at Occoquan Challenge! (Updated! 10/27/2008)
Two Women’s 8s, three Women’s 4s and a Men’s 8 raced in the Junior Category at the Occoquan Challenge on October 5. In its second of four head races for the 2008 Fall Season, B-CC Crew faced a challenging, fully buoyed 5,000 meter course with several difficulty turns on the Occoquan Reservoir in Fairfax, Virginia. The Women’s 8s came in 4th and 7th out of a field of 9 boats. The Men’s 8 came in 7th out of a field of 10. But, it was the Women’s 4s that left little on the water coming in 1st, 3rd and 4th out of a field of 8 boats!
Racing for B-CC were Blair Bradley, Chelsea Coble, Olivia Gordon, Ella Kampelman, Izzy Kratchman, Anna Krist, Kate LaFranchi, Ellie Levey, Amanda Litty, Caroline Mansueti, Jessica McKay, Samantha Miller, Zoe Newell, Emily O’Connor, Kira Richards, Hannah Schreiber, Soraya Shehata, Laura Valenstein. Ander Beckham, Marc Bernstein, Alex Guhin, Gerhard Hafstrom, Sam Hartman, George Kozlov, Sam Rosenbaum, Nick van der Vink, Lucien Tessier.
Barons Off to Solid Start at the Head of the Potomac (Updated! 9/29/2008)
Barons opened its fall rowing season at the 28th Annual Charlie Butt Scullers' Head of the Potomac. The men’s squad raced a Junior 4+ and came in third in a field of four boats. The women’s squad raced in two Junior 8s and came in fifth and sixth in a field of 12 boats.
Sponsored by the Potomac Boat Club, the Head of the Potomac is a 2.8 mile head race down the Potomac River along the Virginia shore across from the Georgetown/Foggy Bottom waterfront.
B-CC Crew End-of-the-Year Picnic & Awards Ceremony! (New! 6/8/2008)
The End-of-the-Year Picnic took place on Sunday June 1st at Candy Cane Park.